How/where to find a good CPA in PA

How/where to find a good CPA in PA

Kiersten VogtPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Ocean View, NJ · Member since 2015 · 76 posts · 25 votes

Hello,

We are in need of a long term back and forth relationship with a CPA. My husband and I are both self employed and I'm not sure how to go about finding a good cpa who knows real estate tax law in Pennsylvania. 

Our main source of income right now is my husband's remodeling business. He is a contractor and does home remodels for clients like kitchens, bathrooms, basements, windows and doors and decks. I do the quickbooks (which I'm not so good at,) email response, social media marketing, etc.

We currently use subcontractors for the remodeling business but want to look into hiring employees and the implications of doing so tax wise because we may be bordering on the gray line of where subcontractors end and employees begin.

Our goal for 2019-2021 is to slowly progress into flipping homes full time and using that capital to purchase more multifamily properties and hopefully eventually getting away from homeowner projects altogether. Together, my husband and I have flipped one house, are currently completing our second flip, and purchased a mutlifamily in 2016 to implement the BRRRR strategy on (buy, rent, rehab, refinance, repeat.)

We currently live and are renovating a 2 unit multifamily where we occupy the 3 bedroom 1 bathroom home (to be a 4 bedroom 2 bathroom) and we rent out the 1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment above our garage.

We also purchased a house to flip with my mother as a 50/50 partner on 12/17/18 and we plan to list the house by 2/28/19. I have no idea what to do with this as far as taxes are concerned.

Lastly, I have a social media business where I provide marketing services to businesses (like my husband's remodeling business) as well as operate a blog with a small profit under this business.

We're looking for a CPA to whom we can turn to with questions about how to grow as a business and save as much in taxes as we can legally with proactive thinking. 

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  • Accountant · La Mesa, CA · Member since 2017 · 477 posts · 476 votes
    7y

    Hi @Kiersten Vogt,

    Unless meeting face to face with your CPA is very important to you, you could consider going with one of the CPAs on BiggerPockets.  Most of us have clients nationwide and are experts at real-estate related tax law at the federal level.  Most tax-related decisions you will make based on federal tax law, with PA discrepancies as a secondary consideration.

    However, if you are looking for a good local CPA your husband is in a great position to find one.  I am guessing that as a contractor he has a number of investor clients.  He should talk to them to find out who they use.

  • Lance LvovskyPro Member
    Accountant · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 753 votes
    7y

    @Kiersten Vogt

    Consider hiring someone remotely. You will have a larger pool of qualified CPAs.

  • Michael PlaksPro Member
    Tax Accountant / Enrolled Agent · Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 5k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    7y

    @Kiersten Vogt

    Reach out to @Account Closed - he is in Philly. 

    And, as my colleagues already mentioned, many of us work remotely and nationwide, regardless of our physical location.

  • Kiersten VogtPro Member
    OP
    Real Estate Agent · Ocean View, NJ · Member since 2015 · 76 posts · 25 votes
    7y

    Okay this is great information as I wasn't sure if I absolutely needed to find someone local or not! 

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